Dublin, Ireland — History and Culture
Dublin might not be one of Europe's most visually stunning cities, but what it lacks in aesthetics it more than makes up for with attractions. Most of Dublin's sightseeing hotspots are located south of the River Liffey, in a district of gracious Georgian mansions and leafy avenues around Grafton Street and elegant St Stephen's Green.
When it comes to Dublin's history, scholars always fail to agree on exactly when Dublin was first settled, but it was probably long before the Gaels came to these lands. By the ninth century, the Vikings had established themselves, though the Irish (drawn mainly from Celtic stock) managed to usurp them by the 11th-century. The English proved a much more resilient foe, first meddling in Irish affairs then (under Oliver Cromwell) taking control of the city in 1649.
Although Dublin grew rapidly and prospered economically through the British Empire, desires for independence never dimmed and in 1916 the Easter Rising paved the way for a separation from London.
Today Dublin is the capital of a confident member country of the European Union and is very much at the forefront of Irish affairs.
